Metro Exodus

Continuation of the Metro shooter series. This time, the events will go beyond the familiar Moscow metro and allow you to explore the world of post-apocalyptic Russia. The goal is to find a place where you can simply live, not just survive. You will also be able to decide who to make your friend and who to make your enemy. But you need to be careful, as incorrect replies can change friends' attitudes towards you.

The single-player first-person shooter Metro Exodus is the third in the Metro series and has further developed the series' capabilities. RPG elements, advanced customization, and an engaging storyline have been introduced, where the hero of the previous games, Artyom, leaves the Moscow metro and travels through post-apocalyptic Russia by train. The action takes place on large maps, but there is no open world in Metro Exodus.

Gameplay has become more realistic thanks to a whole range of new mechanics, such as artificial intelligence simulation and the influence of the ecosystem on NPC behavior. Metro Exodus features an improved engine that showcases graphics close to photorealism: physical rendering has been applied, full facial capture for CGI, lighting systems have been updated, and much more.

Russia, 2036. Many years have passed since the nuclear war, the nuclear winter is receding, and the climate is becoming milder. Players will face a beautiful yet hostile world, with a day-night cycle and dynamic weather conditions. A storm can help hide from enemies and infiltrate a camp, while night can allow you to quietly take out sleeping foes.

Each location in Metro Exodus is not a set of corridors, but a collection of different buildings and types of terrain, and they have become 10-20 times larger compared to Metro: Last Light. Each level features atmospheric dungeons or bunkers ready to delight fans of intimate locations from the duology.

Enemies are unique to each region and season — gamers will face not only mutants inhabiting radioactive zones but also humans, including ordinary bandits and religious fanatics.

The events of Metro Exodus directly continue the story of the previous two games; it is worth playing them to understand what is happening. The writers have hidden gameplay behind the atmosphere of post-apocalypse and universal devastation.

As a result of Last Light, the most powerful faction became the Hanse, uniting the stations of the Ring Line. Artyom leads a group of Spartan Rangers and sets off eastward on the train "Aurora." The goal is to find a place where one can live, not just survive. Along the way, he encounters other survivors whom he can take with him or leave to their fate.

The plot covers a year of life, with changing seasons and weather. Autumn will find you in mountainous terrain where mutant wolves roam, bears, while summer will be spent in a dusty wasteland at the bottom of the dried Caspian Sea with oil rigs. Without revealing details, it should be noted that the script of Metro Exodus is larger than that of the two previous games and DLC combined.

The story remains strictly linear; once the player enters a new area, they cannot go back. However, the variability of gameplay is achieved through a whole range of mechanics, both gameplay and role-playing.

For example, you can influence what happens, but only through actions, not dialogues. There are no response options in dialogues — characters must be listened to. At the same time, certain actions can change friends' attitudes towards Artyom, which must be taken into account. All player actions affect important plot events and the ending.

Metro Exodus is a sandbox with survival elements; the player can thoroughly explore the entire location or quickly run through key points, with no restrictions.

Gameplay offers three main ways to play: explore vast locations in search of hidden paths, use tactical mechanics in gunfights and melee combat, or the improved stealth system.

For example, by playing stealthily, Artyom can incapacitate enemies with non-lethal strikes, using the time of day to advance. During the day, enemies patrol the areas around the camp, while there are very few people inside, making it easier to infiltrate. At night, all enemies gather in the camp, but darkness will be on the player's side.

A crafting and customization system has been added. The player is free to detailed customize each of their weapons, with hundreds of different combinations available. Finding a mediocre rifle with a great scope allows you to remove the optics and put it on your cool gun. Weapons will also need to be regularly cleaned and maintained in good condition, or they will jam. Gear, exosuits, and helmets can now also be upgraded.

On the way East, the player will encounter many side quests that will reward them with gear and reputation points. All of this will be useful for completing the game's challenging ending.